The Crown Estate has recently outlined the application and consent procedure for wave and tidal energy projects in the Pentland Firth – the first UK marine power site to be opened up for commercial-scale development – with the aim of generating more than 700 MW of energy by 2020.
The Pentland Firth and surrounding area contains six of the top ten best sites in the UK for tidal power development. According to The Crown Estate, while the main focus is on tidal power, the area is also attractive to wave power developers. It already contains the European Marine Energy Centre, the first test centre for wave and tidal technology anywhere in the world.
The process of granting options for lease over areas of seabed in the Pentland Firth and surrounding area will be concluded in the summer of 2009, with initial devices being deployed as early as 2010 / 2011.
The Crown Estate will look closely to see what local community benefits each developer can incorporate into their scheme and all commercial development will be subject to a comprehensive environmental impact assessment.
First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Scotland is blessed with a huge natural potential – our wind resources, our forestry for sustainable biomass energy and our vast seas giving us energy from wave and tide. Our seas alone could provide 25 percent of Europe's tidal power and 10 percent of wave power."
The announcement is a result of work by the Pentland Firth Tidal Energy Project which works to develop the marine energy industry. The project partners are The Crown Estate, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Highland Council, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the Scottish Government.
According to The Crown Estate, the process will take into account the wide range of stakeholder interests including international shipping routes, ferry traffic, fishing, defence, environment and ecology. All commercial development will be subject to a comprehensive environmental impact assessment process, and developers will have to show that their proposed development will not have any significant adverse impact in the development and surrounding areas. The initial devices to be installed are expected to be full size demonstration devices.
The Pentland Firth Tidal Energy Project will showcase their developments at the 2nd Annual Tidal Energy Summit next month, in London. For more details view www.tidaltoday.com/tidal08
